California’s Safe Routes to School Initiative Department of Health Services Anne Seeley Barb Alberson Rosanna Jackson

Safe Routes to Schools the 20 minute overview Definitions Public health potential Partnerships Programs Moving forward

Safe Routes to Schools Definitions Promoting non-motorized trips to and from school Feet Bikes Skateboards & scooters Normalizing incidental physical activity Using the “spectrum of prevention”

Safe Routes to Schools Definitions SR2S programs help Children who already bike & walk and Enable more children to safely bike and walk Whatever the barriers Ultimately: create places and a culture for all to safely walk & bike

Safe Routes to Schools Definitions The Three “E”s Education Engineering Enforcement Additional “E”s for comprehensive SR2S programs Environment Equity Encouragement Enrichment

Education: Maps with Designated Routes Maps: The “original” Safe Routes to School program.

Education: Skill Building for Children Traffic skills Social skills Independent problem solving

Engineering Sidewalks Bike paths Crosswalks More comprehensive engineering solutions: “Traffic calming”

Enforcement Law enforcement Signs & lights (passive enforcement) Tickets Stings Community involvement Patrols Safe houses Crossing guards

Environment Litter Visibility Dogs People Social Anti-social

Policies and Legislation School siting & size Busing Transportation funding Liability Roadway maintenance Classroom curricula After-school programs Crossing guards Storage for bikes and books

Safe Routes to Schools Public health potential

Potential: The Public Health Benefits Lifelong health 24% of U.S. children are now obese, a 55% increase from 1963 Asthma Diabetes Bone health Mental health

Potential: The Public Health Benefits Children’s skill development Traffic skills for safe mobility Socialization Independence Children’s academic performance Concentration, problem solving ability and mood are enhanced by physical activity

Potential: The Public Health Benefits Community livability Active community environments (ACEs) Safety, Access, Aesthetics, Functionality Traffic safety Congestion Parents driving their children to school comprise 20% - 25% of the morning commute and vehicle emissions Community cohesiveness Small schools serving a neighborhood Environmental stewardship

Research Potential Demonstration projects England, Canada, U.S. Transportation surveys for example: children’s trip distances and modes Community audits Walkability checklists

Research Potential Walkability Checklists from California’s Walk to School Day have provided data: Drivers don’t yield to children on foot Children want to bike By 3 rd grade, walk trips are in decline Bus riders are the children most likely to perceive dangers along the route when they do walk Thank you Cathy CDC !

Grassroots Potential “ We will use walk-day checklists to show our town places we need more safety measures along the main routes to school.” Malcolm Clark parent at Bullis Purissima Elementary Los Altos

Grassroots Potential “Children should be able to walk to school. It’s a basic right.” Helen Kwan, co-coordinator at John Yehall Chin Elementary San Francisco San Francisco Independent 10/9/01

Safe Routes to Schools Partnerships Health departments Walking advocates Parks & recreation Academy of Pediatricians Parent-Teacher associations Traffic officers Department of Education School health School safety Bicycle advocates Trails advocates Safe Kids Coalitions CA legislature Federal Express Environmental Protection Agency Transportation & public works departments Environmentalists Local government officials Automobile insurance companies

Common agenda for multiple partners In California... Dept of Health Services Traffic-Related Injury Prevention Active Community Environments Cancer Prevention & Nutrition Rails to Trails Conservancy Surface Transportation Policy Project California Bicycle Coalition Local Government Commission CA Highway Patrol

Safe Routes to Schools Program activities in California Caltrans grants Engineering Community planning grants DHS Marin County Walk to School Day 500+ schools every October

The “Caltrans program” Construction grants to public works Eligible projects Sidewalks & crosswalks traffic control devices bike lanes & off-street trails $500,000 maximum per award

Safe Routes to Schools through Safe Communities Office of Traffic Safety federal “402” safety funds Nine local lead agencies $25,000 ~ 18 months CA Department of Health Services Project management & technical assistance NHTSA’s “Safe Communities” model

Safe Routes to Schools through Safe Communities  Local lead agencies for SR2S projects:  community clinic  hospital community outreach office  city transportation department  county health department  bicycle coalitions  child abuse prevention council  county public works department

Walk to School Day

Simple, turn-key event Media worthy Raise awareness … or call to action Start of school year Prior to fall elections Potential to rally allies for ongoing projects

Walk to School Day Highlights a variety of health and safety issues: Overweight and obesity epidemic Traffic, crime and violence hazards Insufficient pedestrian and bicycle facilities Air quality ~ asthma Bicycle helmets

Walk to School Day “We had a lot of fun and can’t wait for next year. In 2002 we hope to make this a week long event so we can fit more schools in.” Lisa Scates Public Safety Officer City of Palmdale

Example: Noralto School in Sacramento

Example: Safe Kids Coalitions National partnership for pedestrian safety Federal Express LL Bean

Walk Day DHS Resources Checklists Promotion Activity ideas

Walk Day DHS Registration Advocacy network Support legislation Idea exchange

Examples of support for Walk to School Day  Department of Education mailing  10,000 school principals and district superintendents  Spanish language translations produced by DHS’s Latino 5-a-day program  7 th grade class at a Chinese immersion school translated the checklist into Chinese  Local health departments got volunteers to translate the checklist into Spanish and Hmong

Moving Forward: Recommendations to Public Health agencies Set a comprehensive definition Harness a complex agenda Adopt Precautionary Principle (act now!) Link chronic disease control with injury control Promote Walk to School Day National website: Resources Registration

Moving Forward: Support “Caltrans” legislation Federal transportation bill “TEA-3” State transportation program 9 states have similar SR2S bills For info: Surface Transportation Policy Project

Safe Routes to Schools create Healthier Communities Many gatekeepers Many stakeholders Multiple benefits Common agenda Highly adaptable Positive Profound Sustainable